Trailer tire size question for emergency

[john from md]

I'm asking this as I saw a situation where a guy hit a pot hole and blew one of his tires. He had 13 inch tires and dryrotted spare. I had a 14 inch with the same bolt pattern that I could have put on to tow it home. He elected to wait for his son to come up ( about four hours later) with another 13 inch tire.

My question is, can you tow in an emergency with a larger size tire? I may wind up in the same boat some day and I would like to know if it is possible.

I would think that it might track off a little, and the tires would wear funny but I might give it a try for the 20 miles I go between my house and the ramp if I had to.

What do you guys think?

John

ps. my boat is only a 16 foot Capri.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Trailer tire size question for emergency

Sure, any tire is better than none to get out of a pinch,,, as long you are not over loading the tire, hauling a** and it fits the trailer.

The problem you might find is your 14 might not have fit because of fender clearance issues, too close to allow for suspension travel or too wide and the edge of the fender will cut into the tire.

 

[john from md]

Re: Trailer tire size question for emergency

I thought about the fender issue. The guy had an ez loader like I do and four bolts take the plastic fender off which gives you plenty of room.

I agree about not being a jack rabbit on the road.

John

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Trailer tire size question for emergency

Far better to keep an eye on the spare for rot and replace if necessary. I rotate my tires each season so the "spare" goes back on every third year.

 

[john from md]

Re: Trailer tire size question for emergency

Hey, that's a great idea. I never thought of it. My brother (who's into race cars) tells me that people are also starting to fill their tires with Nitrogen. He says it keeps the moisture out of the tire and the molecules are bigger so the tire pressure stays up longer.

Live and learn!

John

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Trailer tire size question for emergency

Dont know much about nitrogen in tires but we use it all the time in gas springs in the auto industry.
I take my wheels off when stored for the winter also. Keep them in the basement storage area in the house. They dont have to go through the rigours of a Canadian winter then.